Portable traveling scaffold



y 1953 c. c. WHEELER I 2,639,950

PORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed Jan. 4. 1950 7 SheetS-Sheet 1 FIG I *1INVENTOR N N E Q CLAUDE WHEELER,

ATTORNEY.

M y 6, 1953 c. c. WHEELER 2,639,950

PORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed Jan. 4, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORCLAUDE C. WHEELER ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 c. c'. WHEELER 2,639,950

PORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed 'Jan. 4, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR CLAUDE 0. WHEELER ATTORNEY y 6, 1953 c. c. WHEELER 2,639,950

PORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filkd Jan. 4, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4 31;

' KNVENTOR CLAUDE 0. WHEELER ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 c. c. WHEELERPORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD 7 Sheets-Sheets Filed Jan. 4, 1950 INVENTORCLAUDE c .WHEELER ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 c. d. WHEELER 2,639,950

PORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD Filed Jan. 4, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 a I, 46Y FIG. 10

J I 2 All 9 I f F IM- i 1 I A INVENTOR" A CLAUDE '6. WHEELER,

I BYVg,17MdM%7/w,

ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 c. c. WHEELER PORTABLE TRAVELING SCAFFOLD 7Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 4, 1950 INVENTOR CLAUDE C WHEELER ATTORNEYPatented May 26, 1953 STATES FFICE PORTABLETRAVELINGiS'GAFFGIiD :1Claude 1C; wheeler flxfo idiifl. G.

Application-Ianuary 4, 1950; setialiNo'. 1367732 (ChiSM -eSJ- 7.:Claims.1 "This 'invention'relates to apparatus for use in the construction;repair and maintenance of highway bridgesandlike structures.

In the constructionbf steel andconcrete .bridgesit is; necessary toplace and remove, from below, the forms usedior laying the --concretefloor." This operation has heretofore presented serious. diln'culties.

.It is also necessary to rub and finish or refinish concrete piers,etc,; and .to paint-the'struc- .tnralsteel, andthe provision ofequipment where- .by workmen may be'put in position to operate on vsuchinaccessible parts has posed quite a diffioultzproblem.

"TIhegeneragl Object of the present invention is,

therefore, to devise apparatusby which forms or the like maybe readilyplaced in position "from the top and removed from theunder side' of abridge, and by which ready accesspmay be had .to the lower surfaoesofthe'bridge structureand to .the piers for finishing, paintingandrepairs.

Aiurther object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter in the nature ofa movable .scafiold comprising a supportingframework on wheels adapted to travel along the upper surface ofiithebridge structure, and thusloe'posi- .tioned at any pointldesired in thelength of the Joridg-e,..the framework of the scaffold projectinglaterally beyond the edges of the bridge andhav- King arhanger dependingtherefromat each side to a point below the level of the bridge floor.

A further object .is to devise a, scafiold of this nature which is notonly capable of traveling along a bridge, as described in the precedingparagraph, but is also portable. That isito say, the framework, andother portions of the structure are tormed'of parts, put together withbolts andscrews, and can be easily and quickly put together and takenapart, so thatlthe apparatus may beread-ily moved from one job toanother, and used repeatedly. This means a greatsaving in material,labor, time and .cost.

Another object ofthe invention is to Provide.a--po11table,.itraye1ing.scaffold of the character described comprisingairamework which is laterally adjustable, so as to. .conformwith bridgestructures of different widths.

A afurther object is to-prov-ide .a traveling scaffold; of .thisnatureequippedwithderricks by means of which concrete forms and timbersmay or supporting member, extending transversely of thy-bridge; "beneaththeii oor' thereo'f, is carried 'by' said *hangers'nand"maybe raised andlowered 'as desired;'-to*aiford access-tda'll parts of thehridg'eistrue'ture including the piers. Yet-"anothen-and' importantobject of the invention 'isto devise a-niethod and'means' by which suchrigid transverse beam "or member may be shifted-into 'aposition "toclear the p'iers whenthe travelin scaffold is mov'ed along-the length'of the bridge.

' With'theabove and 'other objects in view, and to improve generally onthe-details of such apparatus; theiinv'ention' consists in"theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed"and-claimed; and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,-forming part of this specification;and irrwhich:

"" Fig. 1is"aiperspeetiveviewfrom beneath showing broken l'i'nes a'portion of a bridge and in full lines illustrating my =i'rnproved*traveling scafsold-mounted thereon.

' Fig. 2' is a similarview but illustrating how my improved apparatuscanbe used for straddling thebridge piers.

l i'g. is an'elev-ation on arr-enlarged scale of -oneend orthe travelingscaffold-showing one of the hangers depending-therefrom.

*Fig; 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through theapparatus sh0wn'in'Fig. 3.

' Fig. is atragm'entary elevation showingmy' improved clamping means forholding the beams, the heam-itself being shown iii-section.

*Fig. 6 is a fnargrn'en'taryp1a'n -view*of some of the-parts illustratedin-Fig.4;

' Fig. *7 is a fragmentary transverse section on an enlarged s cale' showing the wheel guiding means' which I employ.

: Fig. 8 is a -plan view'of' the framework of my improved traveling"scaffold as it appears when supported on the upper surface of abridge,parts *being'in section.

Fig. 9 is av side elevation of the framework shown" in Fig. 8another-position of theparts 'being'i'rllustratedfin dotted lines.

i s. .IO iand' .11 are similar views; showing my improvedtravelingscaffold in side elevation in lfulljlinesanda portionlof a bridge intransverse section inbr-oken lines, the parts being illustrated in-:diferent .positions intheitwo views-and Fig. 12 is .a'liplanview-10:1" my improved appar-atusgsimilarl to -Fig 8Jout on .arsmallerscale, and illustratingtile method-ct manipulating the beams or girdersto enable them to belmoved p ast rthegpiers.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a steel and concrete bridge ofconventional design is shown in broken lines as comprising a floor A,curbs B, longitudinal beams C and transverse beams D, supported on piersE.

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, my improved traveling scaffold comprisesa framework made up of two pairs of transversely extending timbers I and2 united at their ends by pairs of spaced members 3 and 4. In practice Ihave found it convenient to use 2" x 6" timbers for the members I, 2 and3, while the members 4 are preferably 4" x 6". This framework is of alength substantially equal to the width of the bridge being worked on,and in order that the framework may be adjusted to bridges of differentwidths, the members I and 2 are arranged in-overlapping relation asshown in Fig. 8 and are held together by pairs of clamps and 6. Themembers 3 and 4 are joined to the members I and 2 by means of anglebrackets "I and 8.

At each end of the framework above described I provide a pair of plates9, these plates preferably lying against the inner faces of the membersI and 2 respectively and being interposed between such faces and theends of the members 4. The bolts which secure the brackets I and 8 tothe members I and 2 pass through these plates 9 so as to rigidl unitethem with the framework.

These plates 9 project a substantial distance beyond the members 4 andat each end of the framework I provide a pair of horizontal shafts oraxles III which are welded to the outer faces of the plates 9, asclearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

On these axles II] are rotatably mounted pairs of wheels II, the wheelsat each end of the framework lying in the same vertical plane. Thesewheels are adapted to be supported and roll along either on the steelbeams of the bridge frame, before the concrete is poured, or on thecompleted concrete curbs B of the bridge, and in order to guide them,and prevent them from slipping off the curbs, I preferably provide atrackway or guide as shown in Fig. 7. This comprises a board 38 ofsubstantially the same width as the curb, and resting on the curb, thetrackway itself being held in position by a flange 38 engaging the edgeof the curb. Secured to the upper surface of the board 38 are a pair ofspaced rails 39 between which the wheels I I freely roll.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, as well as Figs. 8 and 9, I provide ateach end of the framework a pair of vertical struts I2, which maconveniently be formed of angle iron, these struts being bolted orwelded at their lower ends to the plates 9. A brace I3 is secured to theupper end of each strut I2 and extends diagonally to the outer end ofthe adjacent axle II], where it is welded to a sleeve I4 fitting overthe end of the axle. A tie bar I5 is secured to the upper end of eachstrut I2 and is anchored at its lower end to one of the plates 9 at apoint between the members 3 and 4, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

Supported by the pair of axles III at each end of the framework anddepending therefrom is a hanger comprising the vertical members I6, eachof which is attached to the corresponding axle by means of a connectorI'I, embracing the axle but free to slide thereon. The members I 6 areunited by a tie bar I8, both the members I6 and I B preferably beingformed of angle iron as shown. Secured to the upper end of each memberI6 is a crossbar I9 provided with a series of holes 20, through any oneof which may be passed a bolt uniting the crossbar I9 with the strut I2.Thus, by removing these bolts, the entire hanger may be adjusted alongthe axles toward and from the wheels as desired, so as to provide thenecessary clearance between the hanger and the edge of the bridge.

Adjacent their lower ends the members I6 are united by a tie bar 2I, andare further rigidly connected by diagonally extending braces 22, asclearly shown in Fig. 3.

A bracket 23 is secured to the lower end of each member I6, so thatboards 24 may be supported on these brackets and extend from one to theother thereof as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thus providing a platform onwhich workmen may stand.

Mounted upon each member I6, at a convenient height above the platformboards 24 is a winch 25, provided with a crank by which it may be turnedby workmen standing on the platform. A cable 26 extends from this winchup over a pulley 21, mounted on the member I6, thence downwardly arounda movable pulley 28, and thence upwardly to the upper end of the hangerwhere it is anchored as indicated at 29. The movable pulley 28 carries ahook 30.

In order to provide a support by means of which workmen may have accessto the undersurface of the bridge floor and to the piers, I employ apair of rigid beams or girders of a length substantially equal to thewidth of the bridge, and designated in their entirety by the numeral 3I. These girders are preferably of the latticed beam type and aregenerally similar in construction to the booms used on large derricks.They are shown as of triangular configuration in cross section, fiat ontop, and are widest and deepest at their center, like a truss, taperingtoward both ends, thus providing a rigid structure capable of supportingthe necessary loads without appreciable bending. The girders arepreferably made in two sections bolted together at their middle, asindicated at 3I This facilitates portability, and also makes it possibleto interpose between the sections a third section, if desired, to extendthe length for an extra wide bridge. These beams or girders terminate ateach end in a relatively small bar 32, in line with the flat top, sothat when supported by these bars, the girders will not turn over.Attached to each of these bars is a clevis 33, adapted to be engaged bythe hook 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

It will now be understood that these beams or girders 3| may besuspended between cables 26 and hooks 30, and may be raised or loweredas required by means of the winches 25. When the cables are drawn up asfar as possible, the bars 32 at the ends of the girders lie snuglybeneath the brackets 23 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and these bars may belocked in this position and clamped to the hangers by the clampingdevice shown in detail in Fig. 5. This device consists of an angularmember 34 pivoted at its lower end at 35 to the member I6 and adapted tobe held in the position shown in full lines by means of a turnbuckle 36anchored to the tie bar 2I at 31. When in this position it will be seenthat the member snugly embraces the bar 32 at the end of the girder andlocks it to the hanger. The pair of girders or beams, when thus lockedat their ends to the hangers, provide a rigid structure on which anydesired number of boards 24, extending from one girder to the other, maybe supported, thus providing a platform on which workmen may standbeneath the floor of the bridge. If it is desired to space this platformfurther away from the bridge fioor, the clamps 34 may be released andthe beams or girders lowered. bymeans :of vthe;:cableswzfi-iand winches25, :until itherdesired rposition lisreached.

dnvFi 2"."I' havenillustraiiediihowzthe hairs 'of beamsor girders 3-1|-=mayrbez'arrangedto straddle the piers E of the bridgesoithartrblritnlaoingrboards 24 ansczt onrthesezgirderswaccesscmay behad by- .wonkmen; @to all four :sides: .teachrpien? c135 raisinggorzlowering.ythe girders as nequiredrthe .worlrmenmay operate-on the.rpiershthroughout their entire, rheight. :Buch arrangement: :isparticularlya-ausefiuliinrfinishingrnrtrefinishing the piers.

My improved traveling :scafiuld also .;comprises aipairo'icderricksamountedmneataeaohiendnfrthetransverselyrrextending.iramework. 'f-cEach derrick .coinruzirises :apost-J 4s. :rctatably :rrxoimted at the center of the niemberzi iassclearlyxshown:irnFigs. 3: and-n, and :a. boomydrlnpdyoted .tdthepostrat42. Secured ltorthextop :of thEJDDS'GWU risaaplateilfiy and fromthisrplate: extend tpairi of: diagonally dis-'- posed 913133065. Mattached at" their.- lower'rends to the member .3, preferabl -b::meanszof ."the same boltsatl'iai, JIIOId 'theibraieket'lfiir 1 Thus.the =post' 40 is rigidly supported. .A chain 5'1 .is-;a;ttached-i atone: endtoi the .outer iendicofitheiiboonr 4d.sand-extendsratiitsiother': end: through :a. keyhole slot :52 formedzdn1a: platewfid'swiveled toith-e 130p? or the postfdfl*Thuszbyliaki'ngupronithis 1 chainthe'inolinationrofrtheib'oom may beadjusted as desired.

' Axwinchi t5 'is mounted .on athe :postid'll, ands cable4.6;entendsrfrom.uthisx'winoh:over a pulley Mat-the rendzoffrtheshoom,to andzaround "a movable: pulley-p48; andiisaanchored ati flsiitosithebo'om. The movablenpulley deecar-riesma hook 50.

A plate-138 ihaving as-holeutherein; isvsecured to the'bazr sl'at-'its'middle;iandsbyinserting 'the hookrfii] lO'ff. he iderriokdnthisRhOle, the entire hanger. :may :beuraisedtend-flowered :as requiredwhen attanhingaitztorordisconnecting it from the axlesw.

Referringtagain ttoiflig. 9, .it. will be understood thatwhen-thezframeworkis.imthepositiori shown in.fullp-lmes,vitznecessarilyzblonks:the roadway over the 'bridge.Viihenitispdzesired to open this road- WayL-SOrthat trucks-.orrthelikermaypassithrough, thelframework is shifted to;-thep'ositionindicated indotted lines. Tozdothisitheiboltszofithe clamps 5and 6 are. loosened,...=and thesexclamps shifted to, the ileft. :to'1.the:.p:ositions.:shownin: dotted lines in theelower. part;ofathefrguregthewclamps beingpmovedzbeyondmhe.endrofthe membersil L Thispermitsxthev membersvI; and :2 rto..mov@ :angularl-y with respect toeach other, the clamp 6 occupy ing substantially a. central position andfitting loosely enough to permit the angular displacementiof. themenibers as shown. -To maintain the parts iinwtheposition'lshownr-inudotted lines, the bolts of the clamp 6 maybe thentightened.

It remains to describe the manner in which, by means of-my improvedapparatus the girders or beams'ISt-may be moved around. the piersasthescaffold; travels along the length, of the bridge.

' When it 'is desired to moveltheigirders past -a pier, lproceed asfollows. ..I.firstattacmthe-lhook fill-of one of the derrick cables 65'to the center of the girder or truss 3| to be moved, as indicated inFig. 10. Then the clamps 34 at each end of this truss or girder arereleased, so that the girder is free to swing. I then take up on theboom cable 46 by winding the winch 45, while at the same time I slackenthe cables 26 at the ends of the girder. This process is continued untilthe truss or girder has been shifted endwise into the position shown inFig. 11 in which it is suspended by the derrick, and in which its centerhangs di- 6 sredtly below-:thelderrick pulley; ,I. then-disconnectrtheihOQk 5010f the-r cablerdfi from the inner endrofzithewtrussorigirdenmermitting .thishook and cable to hang free asshowniiniull'linesat the left of Fig. 11. This can beneadilyiaccomplishedrbya workmanion' the other tnussor girder. Mter:nthe -0Brble'r it has been-disconnected from the". 1111191.,611dn0fthetruss -or girder it is swung aroundi-nto a, positionv substantiallyparallel with theredge of the bridgeas shown in :full linesin Eig.id2..--ilihe,.'scafiold=can.ythen he -moved along therbnidgelas far asdesireduntil-the pier ispassed. ithe trussnor girder is then swungaround into crosswise position again-as indicated in dotted linescin'lFligr 12 and-the cable 26 from the other side-of: the-bridge .is then:connected to the inner and ofithetmisssor girder asshownin-dotted linesinzgil ig. =11. The-derrick cable is then ,slackened while the-two"winch.- cables :26: are progressively tightened up, and this iscontinueduntil the truss or girder goes-back to its original position inwhich itlextends-transversely of the bridge. When it v.has :been raisedup into engagement with. the hangers; thepturnbuckle clamps 3d are again.fastoned:around thebars 32, thus rigidly securing the 21311155.:position. The second truss or girder may then be manipulated in thesamermanner.

It will -thus be seen that I have provided .a traveling scaffold whichcan, be moved from one end'lof .the bhidge-tohthe(other, this scaffoldcomprising ;beams or girders extending transyersely beneath the bridge,which beams or girders may beshifted to a position :in which-they .canmove past the. piers, as the scaffold-travelsalong. It will. also-beseenthat [by means of my improved arrangement oftbeams or girders Lhaveprovided means by which access may be had both to any part of the:undersurf-ace of the bridge structure and to allsides of the piers,throughout theirs-entire: height.

, .ltrwillibe understood that: my hovel-traveling scaflfold'zis.intendedtobeemployed in the original construction of bridges and thelike, as -wel1.as in their maintenance ,and repair. Thus,- as .abovementioned, the wheels ofthezscaffold-may-be.supportedend' roll along-onthe steel beams of the bridge, as soonbas-theyare put in place, andbefore the concrete is poured. .At this zstage, the derricltsymay be:usedztoedvantage in-hoisting and erecting -.ou-:-setting the forms forthe concrete.

Also, atithisstage, the girders or trusses may be employed to affordaccess to the-steel nnderstructure of the .bridgefor painting.

- "Aftertheconcrete hasbeenqpoured and hasset, the- Wheels .ofthescaffoldare'supported. on the flooraorcurbsoi the bridge, asabovedescribed, andnthederricksimay be employed ,ior wrecking or;pullingout"the forms from below-the floor. These terms mayreitherbelowered'tothe ground, or:hoisted up onto the floor; aszdesired.

. Itxwill- :be :noted 'that,.;as :above :BOilltEd out, the partsoftheitramework :ofithe scaffold are secured by aboltsrand chimpsyso.that-ztheyare .readilyseparable, andLcanbe: easiiyxand aquickly:takenwdown andaput together. zAlso,. the 'girders'or trusses .areseparately fabricated units, detachable from the hangers which supportthem. Thus, the entire equipment may be readily disassembled,transported from one place to another, and again set p.

In conclusion, it will be seen that I have pro vided a novel, portable,traveling scaffold which may be used repeatedly on successive jobs forthe construction, maintenance and repair of highway bridges and thelike, with a tremendous saving in time, materials, labor and cost, andit is thought that the many advantages of the invention will be readilyappreciated by those familiar with such matters.

What I claim is:

1. A travelling scaffold comprising a frame extending transverselyacross and over the deck structure of a bridge, means supporting saidframe on said deck structure for longitudinal movement therealong, saidframe having portions projecting outwardly beyond the lateral edges ofsaid deck structure, a hanger fixed to and depending from each of saidprojecting portions to a position below the bottom of said deckstructure, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel rigid beamsextending between the lower ends of said hangers at a level below thebottom of said deck structure, and means for releasably andindependently supporting each end of each beam from said hangers.

2. A scaffold as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprisesslidably related pairs of elongated members extending transversely ofsaid deck structure, the members of said pairs being relativelyadjustable to vary the distance between said frame supporting means,said members being further relatively pivotally adjustable to extendinwardly and upwardly from opposite sides of said deck structure wherebyto permit movement of traffic thereunder, and means for clamping saidmembers together in said positions of adjustment.

3. A travelling scaffold comprising a frame extending transverselyacross and over the deck structure of a bridge, means supporting saidframe on said deck structure for longitudinal movement therealong, saidframe having portions projecting outwardly beyond the lateral edges ofsaid deck structure, a hanger fixed to and depending from each of saidprojecting portions to a position below the bottom of said deckstructure, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel rigid beamsextending between the lower ends of said hangers at a level below thebottom of said deck structure, means for releaseably and independentlysupporting each end of each beam from said hangers, each of said hangersincluding means at the lower ends thereof for fixedly supporting arelatively narrow platform substantially parallel to the edges of saiddeck structure below the level thereof and adjacent the supporting meansfor said beams.

4. A travelling scaffold comprising a frame extending transverselyacross and over the deck structure of a bridge, means supporting saidframe on said deck structure for longitudinal movement therealong, saidframe having portions projecting outwardly beyond the lateral edges ofsaid deck structure, a hanger fixed to and depending from each of saidprojecting portions to a position below the bottom of said deckstructure, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel rigid beamsextending between the lower ends of said hangers at a level below thebottom of said deck structure, means for releaseably and independentlysupporting each end of each beam from said hangers, said means forsupporting said beams on said hangers including means for independentlyraising and lowering each end of each beam relative to said hangers.

5. A travelling scaffold comprising a frame extending transverselyacross and over the deck structure of a bridge, means supporting saidframe on said deck structure for longitudinal movement therealong, saidframe having portions projecting outwardly beyond the lateral edges ofsaid deck structure, a hanger fixed to and depending from each of saidprojecting portions to a position below the bottom of said deckstructure, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel rigid beamsextending between the lower ends of said hangers at a level below thebottom of said deck structure, means for releaseably and independentlysupporting each end of each beam from said hangers, said means forsupporting said beams on said hangers including separate latch means onsaid hangers arranged to engage and lock each end of each beam to saidhangers in a predetermined position at said level.

6. A scaffold as defined in claim 5 wherein said latch means eachcomprises a member pivoted to one of said hangers and arranged to extendunder and engage the outer face of an end of one beam positioned againsta side of said hanger, and means for applying pressure to said member toclamp said beam end against said hanger.

7. A travelling scaffold comprising a frame extending transverselyacross and over the deck structure of a bridge, means supporting saidframe on said deck structure for longitudinal movement therealong, saidframe having portions projecting outwardly beyond the lateral edges ofsaid deck structure, a hanger fixed to and depending from each of saidprojecting portions to a position below the bottom of said deckstructure, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel rigid beamsextending between the lower ends of said hangers at a level below thebottom of said deck structure, means for releasably and independentlysupporting each end of each beam from said hangers, and hoist means forseparating either of said beams by its mid portion and for moving saidbeams endwise to position the mid portions thereof outwardly of an edgeof said deck structure, said hoist means being arranged to pivotallysupport a beam so moved about a generally vertical axis substantially atsaid mid portion.

CLAUDE C. WHEELER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 853,161 Clarke May 7, 1907 1,368,663 Deest Feb. 15, 19211,427,453 Fleming Aug. 29, 1922 1,523,438 McMillan Jan. 20, 19252,190,093 Bossart Feb. 13, 1940 2,357,443 Medenwald Sept. 5, 1944

